austin vachal portfolio of landscape architecture

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CONTENTSNebraska City Community Plan03

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Lincoln Civic Plaza

HDR Summer InternshipThe Blind Landscape

2x6 Bench

Spring Creek Prairie Grading

‘Fine Art’

Love Library Quad

NEBRASKA CITY3

NEBRASKA CITY

Nebraska City is a 7,000 person community an hour south of Omaha. The Community is unique historically, and geographically. Situated between two creeks and the Missouri river, the rolling topography and extensive tree cover make it one of the most unique places in Nebraska.

Working along side members of the community, and a group of planning professionals from a local firm, this vertical and interdisciplinary design studio was concerned with the critical issues of human settlement and community development. The first half of the studio began at inventory & analysis and examined the community through the lenses of Green Infrastructure, Urbanism, and Community Input, resulting in a framework plan and a list of priority projects. The second half explored the physical design of a community through these priority projects. The resulting designs address the interrelationships between community historic land and development patterns, land use, transportation infrastructure, and openspace. Community engagement was key throughout the entire process helping to enlighten and guide the studio. It most importantly ensured that the final product was something that responds to the uniqueness of Nebraska City.

COMMUNITY PLANINGNebraska City, NebraskaFall 2014

Central Avenue

A Community of Unique Geography

Historical Industry

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JONATHAN HAUCK LARCANTHONY ROBINSON LARCLYLE JANICEK LARC

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+ Nebraska City History+ Industrial Impact+ Household Types+ Workforce+ Economics+ Tourism

+ Hydrology+ Landcover+ Soils+ Wetlands+ Openspace+ Brownfields

+ Zoning+ Building Use+ Ownership+ Building Quality+ Building Style+ Historic Buildings

+ Road Hierarchy+ Right Of Ways+ Railroads+ Infrastructure+ Utilities+ Walkability

NANETTE HEIMES LARCSALVADOR LINDQUIST LARCTYLER BOWDEN ARCH

ANTHONY MALONE LARCANDREW BEBEE LARCANDREA STEGEMAN ARCH

AUSTIN VACHAL LARCMARC KOCHHEISER LARCADAM BROUILLETTE LARC

MOBILITY

REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY: (Marc Kochheiser) ROAD ROW’S: LIGHTING:Combining an existing GIS inventory of lighting infrastructure in Nebraska City, and an inventory of LED lighting technology allows us to measure the potential cost and savings associated with a small community switching to LED street lighting.

An inventory of the right of ways of the entire city, and surrounding area. Using this information, the community now has a clear map of road ways capable of accommodating potential green street expansion, as well as streets that could bear some rethinking.

Mobility examines the infrastructure and utility networks within Nebraska City. Having impact beyond connectivity, infrastructure acts as the armature of civic investment, and lays the framework for development, vehicular access and pedestrian experience. Utilities provide necessary public services and amenities to businesses and residents within the city.

Regional connectivity measures the connections to surrounding urban areas. This allows us the ability to measure, and compare, the population that could potentially be drawn to Nebraska City, with the distance from the city.

NEBRASKA CITY5

SIDEWALKS: WALKABILITY:SAFEWALKS:A community wide inventory of sidewalks and ADA crossing ramps. We gathered this information for the community to use in future projects and initiatives. While the core was fairly well connected only about 31% of the community was walkable, and only 60% of crossings were ADA accessible.

Stemming from the sidewalk information this analysis examines the connectivity of major civic buildings in the community. The clusters show major civic zones within the city. Within the circles it is becomes easy to examine how walkable the surrounding areas are.


3 OTOE MARKET DISTRICT

2 VISITOR CENTER

4 THE MARINA

5 NORTH+SOUTH TABLE CREEK

6 SPORTS COMPLEX

7 THREE HILLS AMPITHEATER

1 GREAT STREETS

Community Framework Plan

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OTOE MARKETOf the seven resulting priority projects I worked on the Otoe Market District. The district is a dilapidated industrial district that was once home to many historic industries that helped cultivate the culture of the community. It has a unique geographic location sloping from the urban downtown to the natural South Table Creek. Just north of the creek is the industrial belt with large vacant buildings. This area is composed largely of brownfields as well. Continuing North, is the residential core of the district, here the typical grid of the community was disrupted by the meeting of two cities. In between the residential core and Central Avenue is the civic block of community, home to a school, library, and many registered historic structures. The western boundary is the primary North/South connection through the community linking the core to the Highway to the south of town. Along this road are light industrial and commercial properties. The primary constraints of the area are the lack of a clear East/West connection through the district, and the patchwork of brownfields. I worked on this project with fellow Landscape Architecture student Adam Brouillette, and Graduate Architecture student Andrea Stegeman. However, all work shown for this portion of the project was part of my contribution to the group effort.

The Depot

Decaying Industry

Character Of The District


Development Potential

Beginning the inventory and analysis phase of the project, we decided to unpack the development potential of the district. This was accomplished by examining aspects of landuse and ecology of the area. For landuse I decided to examine a mixture of fiscal and spatial constraints that would help create a practical analysis of the area.

I began this process by first mapping building quality, property value, parcel size, and Cost per

square foot of land in the district. This allowed us to easily see things like vacant lots, and the cheapest and largest parcels of land in the area. As a composite analysis of this information. Finally by overlaying these maps, we were able to best identify land in the district best suited for redevelopment. It was no surprise that the ecological composite completed by my partner closely matched the landuse composite.

NEBRASKA CITY9

Clarify Entrances

Emphasize Connections

Reclaim The Creek

Welcome Visitors

Mobility & Image

After uncovering land best suited for redevelopment and infill we began to analyze how to best reconnect the district to the surrounding community. Looking at the road layout, it is readily apparent that meaningful North/South connections are easy to find in the district. However, moving form East to West can be a difficult task.

As a result of our analysis it became clear that the district was in need of some circulatory

redefinition. We needed to first clarify the major entrances into the district, announcing to passersby that this is an area worth exploring. After that we needed to emphasize existing North/South connections, as well as find a major East/West Connection. On top of that we discovered the potential to connect the district to the Creek trail network project being completed by other members of the studio. Finally, the district needed a visual sense of arrival.


Urban Design Framework Plan

The Otoe Market aims to celebrate the agricultural heritage of the Midwest, and the industrial heritage of the site by creating a new local food economy that supports a thriving live/work/play community in a sustainable way. The district is broken down into four components: A: The IncubatorB: Live/Work BlockC: The JunctionD: Openspace Network

The Incubator is the heart and economic driver behind the Otoe Market that seeks to inspire new economies encourage sustainable practices, foster community involvement, and cultivate knowledge by incorporating a culinary incubator and indoor local market as a rallying point.

The Live/Work Block seeks to foster the entrepreneurial and creative spirit of the community by providing opportunities for

Primary District Program

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The Otoe Market District

local ideas to grow. This zone offers Live/Work residences, art studios, and business start up spaces, seeking to attract young families to the community.

The Junction embraces the rich industrial heritage of the community and offers a place of gathering. Anchored by the historic depot, a new park offers recreation flexible openspace, and a new affordable housing typology for the community.

The Openspace network unites the district to itself, as well as the rest of the community. It includes the new park, community trail and green street system proposed by other members of the studio helping to encourage a healthy lifestyle for the community. Finally the whole network is complete with the reuse of stormwater captured in the junction park as a source for the irrigation of food grown in the greenhouses of the district.

Secondary District Program


Water Conservation Education

Community Engagement

NEBRASKA CITY13

Community Oriented Openspace


LOVE LIBRARY NORTH

Following less than a year after a major campus masterplan, this project works aims to work through a similar process, first by understanding the scholastic context that a major campus site resides within, and then by working within that context to strengthen the ever changing figure ground of a major public university.

Working with members of the studio, the first phase of the class looked at understanding the dynamics of a university landscape. Following phases looked to build an understanding of the process of inward expansion, working with both landscape as well as architecture.

Finally, this understanding was translated into physical form as a landscape intervention that fits into a larger context providing collaborative public learning environments, as well as moments of private repose perfect for studying year-round.

CAMPUS DESIGNLincoln, NebraskaSpring 2014

Campus Expansion Timeline

LOVE LIBRARY15

Connectivity Analysis

Connectivity Inventory Connectivity Inventory Connectivity Inventory

ConnectCampusContext

ExpandExistingFrameworks

PermeateTheGroundplane

CreateMeaningfulSpaces

LOVE LIBRARY17

Site Plan


Love Library Eastern LawnWestern Courtyard

CentralGrove

Love Library

Proposed Building Proposed Building

Canopy

Permeability Materials

LOVE LIBRARY19

Western Courtyard


Axon

Site Sections

LOVE LIBRARY21

Eastern Lawn


Looking South

Looking Northeast

Existing Condition

LINCOLN CIVIC PLAZASITE DESIGNLincoln, NebraskaFall 2013

Our site design studio was tasked with developing a plaza at the corner of 12th & P Street in the core of downtown. Just two blocks South of the University of Nebraska, an old movie theater once called the site home. After it was torn down the point of connection to the adjacent building was exposed. The structural pattern of the now exposed brick facade creates an opportunity to make something new out of the old, to find beauty in unlikely situations.

The striped pattern of the facade is pulled onto the ground plane of the main space and is playfully divided into strips of concrete, grass, and corten steel, bringing a softness to a once harsh asphalt pad. Increasing permeability of the ground plane was also of primary concern. Rugged exposed brick is used as a backdrop for a planting of aspens that protect a delicate planting of understory grasses from the imposing wall. Dense green canopies create comfortable yet vibrant spaces as they compliment the orange corten and blue water.

LINCOLN CIVIC PLAZA23

Site Plan

Canopy

Seating

Circulation

Permeability

Program

CafeThe Grove

Urban Lawn12

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P Street


Illustrative Water Feature Detail

Site Section

10” topsoil8” concrete wall

1/2” corten steel plating

aquatic planting bed6” concrete pool


Lincoln Civic Plaza


Texture Study

Water Wall Detail

Concrete Edger Detail Grading Plan

Details


Planting Plan


Mixed Use Buildings

Bicycle Path

Pedestrian Promenade

3 Story Townhomes

Playland Park Streetscape Perspective

Playland Park Streetscape Axon

Omaha, Nebraska

Between May and August, 2014 I had the opportunity to intern at HDR in Omaha, Nebraska. I alternated my weeks between the Planning/Urban Design Group, and the Landscape Architecture Group. Between both groups I was able to gain experience working at a variety of scales, and scopes. During my weeks with the planning group I had the opportunity to help with various projects, including a concept design for a plaza, and the Playland Park plan in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The project was in coordination with Sasaki Associates to create an Urban Design plan to support the Tom Hanafan River’s Edge Park.

During my weeks with the Landscape Architecture Group I was able to work on smaller scale projects including an entry corridor/plaza for the University of Nebraska, as well as a variety of plazas, courtyards, and parking lots.

In addition to gaining design experience in a professional setting, I was fortunate enough to be able to attend various stakeholder meetings and learn a lot about the process of how a project takes shape. I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to learn so much from such a great group of people.

HDR INTERNSHIPSummer 2014

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Perspective


CANOPY, SHADOW, & CIRCULATION

The Blind Landscape is a project developed by Gary Hildebrand for first year MLA students at The Harvard Graduate School of Design. It is a series of three precedent explorations between Canopy Shadow & Circulation, Landform & Views, and Field & Permeability. The project was adapted for our studio by professor Sarah Thomas Karle. The first part of the project focuses on canopy, shadow, and circulation. We were assigned a ground plane precedent, and then overlayed canopy precedents of our choice on the ground plane to challenge existing circulation. We then chose one and explored it further in three more iterations. My ground plane precedent, Schouwbergplein by West 8, is a large open square in the Netherlands. It’s circulation is nearly entirely open and expresses a freedom of choice. My first study featuring the pole field by Hargraeves Associates, creates a central gathering space enclosed by the field of poles. The second featuring the Barcelona Shade Canopies by Helio Pinion attempts to augment the grid of the ground plane. The third featuring the Verdon Beach Rows by Agence Ter focus the circulation primarily in a single direction. There I continued to explore the Shade Canopies, and came to one that uses the canopies as entry promenades, and gathering spaces that create multiple rooms.

THE BLIND LANDSCAPESchouwbergplein, West 8Spring 2014

POLE FIELD, PAOLO ALTO

SHADE CANOPIES, BARCELONA

ITERATION 1

ITERATION 2

ITERATION 3VERDON BEACH, FRANCE

THE BLIND LANDSCAPE31

SHADOW PLAN

SECTION


Study Models

Grading Plan

For part two of the project I was assigned Grand Canal Square, by Martha Schwartz Partners. From there I chose an agenda of views primarily focusing inward, and explored through study models. The final design is a sunken amphitheater like space formed by intersection of the two promenades found in the original plan. The edges are then raised to reinforce the central space. The geometry of the design is inspired by the shattered nature of the existing geometry and features a composition of larger overlapping triangles derived from the site.

LANDFORM & VIEWSGrand Canal SquareMartha Schwartz Partners


Final Model


The third project focuses on the assembly of ground pattern, surface materials, and vegetation to study the concepts of field and permeability. This involves establishing a ground pattern derived from a precedent project, distributing ground materials throughout the pattern, and then introducing layers of vegetation to compose a small, site less public garden. For my project I chose The High Line Module to establish my ground pattern. The module is able to be used in a way that visually blends different ground plane elements, and spaces together. I chose for the design to be physically connected but visually separated, with multiple enclosures created with the use of tall shrubs. Medium and small shrubs are used to accent edges and subdivide spaces. Each enclosure features a water element, and a variety of walkable surfaces. The combination of all of these elements creates a variety of experiences in a relatively small garden.

FIELD & PERMEABILITYThe High LineJames Corner Field Operations

COMPOSITE

PERMEABILITY

GROUND PLANE

MEDIUM SHRUBS

TALL SHRUBS


Final Model


EXPLODED AXON

The 2x6 bench project is an exploration in custom detailing, and thoughtful material use. The project itself explores levels of detail not typically achieved in a single studio project forcing one to think in terms of inches, rather than feet. The project as a whole, teaches one that everything that is to be built has to be thought through to such a scale, if it ever hopes to be built.

As the name implies, it is constructed from a single piece of lumber, 96” in length. The single board is then cut to length and ripped into thirds allowing a frugal use of the lumber. Designing with such strict material limitations requires one to be efficient and thoughtful with their design moves. The beauty in such a strict constraint is that very component of the bench is serving some purpose. The subtraction of any component would cause the bench to structurally fail, or become less stable. Inversely, the addition of any piece would be unnecessary.

The project also requires one to convey the building process in a clear enough manner that a stranger could understand how to put it together. Being clear and concise in construction drawings is paramount to the success of any built project, and is an essential skill for any designer.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT2x6 BENCHSpring 2014

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TOP VIEW

FRONT VIEW

SIDE VIEW

2x6 Bench

Details


Denton, NebraskaFall 2013

SERVICE LEARNING

In the fall of 2013, our class engaged in a service learning project for The Audubon Spring Creek Prairie Center. The key feature of the Center is a historic undeveloped prairie just south of Denton, Nebraska. In addition to preserving the existing prairie, the center has undertaken a small prairie restoration project. The project was lead by Professor Bret Betnar, and our partner Landscape Architect, Kristofer Johnson. The Center is a non-profit organization that relies mostly on donations to stay open. One of the ways the center makes money is by rending out their gallery space, and lawn, for events. Some of the larger events can attract as many as 200 people, and their gallery space is too small to accommodate 200 people. Their lawn is currently too steep to be comfortably used for events, but they have been making it work. Our job was to design a grading plan that would accommodate space for an event tent large enough for 200 people, that could be used as an extension to their gallery space. My design proposes a sequence of spaces leading away from the building to a large terrace that accommodates large events. Stepping out of the gallery leads you into a small gathering space that acts as an extension of the existing patio. From there a walkway bordered by restored prairie leads you to the Terrace that is oriented towards the picturesque views of the serene prairie.

AUDUBON SPRINGCREEK PRAIRIE

Site Layout

Existing Condition

SPRING CREEK PRAIRIE39

Grading Plan


‘FINE ART’41


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